Author/Editor		Bon, Jurij; Havliček, Tomo
Title		Psihosomatika pri umsko manjrazvitih otrocih
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		1998
Volume		str. 68
Language		slo
Abstract		Introduction: Children with mental retardation constitute a group with special medical needs. The objective today is to help them and their families with individually adapted assistance, which enables the child to remain in his domestic environment. The issue of mental health among children with mental retardation has became important only recently, when the term "dual diagnosis" -coincidence of mental illness and mental retardation - was applied. At present there is still much vagueness regarding the recognition of mental illness, possible causes and factors that influence mental illness and medical treatment applied. Use of standardised checklists is recommended for identification, treatment and research of mental illnesses, because they show the results in more objective and standardised way. Purpose: Our aim was to find out if there are differences in physical and social characteristics between children with mental retardation and children without disabilities. We were also interested in influences of various demographic, physical and social factors on the level of mental retardation. We tried to determine the incidence of mental illnesses among children with mental retardation, to learn about the origins and mechanisms of their development and find out about the influences of demographic, physical and social factors on them. We also tried to assess the appropriateness of medical treatment of mental illnesses present. Methods: 46 children with mental retardation and 50 children without disabilities participated in our study. Data about their development, present physical health and social characteristics were obtained from their medical records. Signs of emotional and behavioral disturbances were determined with the use of Developmental Behaviour Checklists, which were completed by the class teachers. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		MENTAL RETARDATION MENTAL DISORDERS PERSONALITY TESTS CHILD BEHAVIOR DISORDERS CHILD